The Department of Earth Sciences (Utrecht University, the Netherlands) currently seeks a highly-motivated, high-potential applicant for the following cross-disciplinary Shell-sponsored position as postdoctoral researcher in mineral physics and interfacial science.

Under certain conditions, interactions among individual atoms, molecules, or electrons can produce a collective behaviour that governs processes occurring at much larger length scales. The extension of this dynamic to processes of industrial and geologic importance is largely unknown and warrants further investigation. We are looking for a scientist that is interested in studying such emergent phenomena as these features develop at the interface of fluids and minerals undergoing reaction.

A variety of resources will be made available to the scientist selected for this position. Along with a generous scientific budget, the Department of Earth Sciences has state-of-the-art experimental facilities as well as onsite access to a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM), several transmission electron microscopes (TEM), a field-emission microprobe and a nano-SIMS. This project will also provide the scholar with access to high-end, in-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy facilities in addition to experimental opportunities at international synchrotron radiation sources (inelastic X-ray scattering, Compton scattering).

The Department of Geological Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), the first national research university serving a 21st-century student demographic, seeks a Chair at the tenured Professor level to lead the Department into the University's second century. The Chair will be expected to build upon existing strengths, add new capabilities, facilitate the development of multidisciplinary research, lead his or her own externally-funded research program, and help fulfill the Department's teaching mission.

The Department of Geological Sciences has a faculty of 15 and more than 150 M.S., Ph.D. and undergraduate students. More information about the activities and facilities in the Department can be found at:http://www.geo.utep.edu. The Department also participates in interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs with Engineering and Computational Science. UTEP is a national research university with an enrollment of over 23,000 students, the majority of whom are Mexican-American.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a discipline appropriate for the Department of Geological Sciences. Candidates should have attained the rank of tenured Professor or tenured Associate Professor at an academic institution or Manager of a successful geosciences technology program in an industry or government research organization.

Candidates who wish to be considered are asked to electronically submit (in PDF format) a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Aaron A. Velasco (aavelasco (at) utep.edu), with the subject line: "UTEP Geological Sciences Chair Search."

Nominations are also welcomed. Review of applications and nominations will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation in employment or the provision of services.

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven (Belgium), in collaboration with the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley (U.S.A.) is seeking to fill a position of PhD studentship on the subject

Relating Dauphiné twins in quartz with the three-dimensional stress state in the Earth's crust

This research project will be performed at both the KULeuven (Belgium) and the UC California (U.S.A.), under the joint supervision of M. Sintubin and H.-R. Wenk. The project is funded by the F.W.O.-Vlaanderen, providing a PhD scholarship at the Arenberg Doctoral School of the KU Leuven (Belgium). Most of the microstructural, mineralogical and petrographical work will be performed at the KU Leuven (Belgium), while most of the EBSD-OIM and microdiffraction work will be performed at UC Berkeley (U.S.A.). Funding covering travel and accommodation expenses are included in the project.At the KU Leuven, the candidate will also be involved in teaching at the masters level (e.g. microtectonics, structural mapping).

ProjectMechanical Dauphiné twins in quartz are a particular, stress-related intracrystalline microstructure, which is unfortunately not detectable by standard optical microscopy. Recent advances in orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) have revealed that Dauphiné twins are omnipresent in quartz in naturally deformed quartz-bearing rocks in a wide range of tectonometamorphic conditions.The main objective of the current research project is to further explore the potential use of mechanical Dauphiné twins in quartz as a three-dimensional paleostress gauge by applying the maximum potential of recently developed research methodologies (EBSD-OIM, X-ray synchrotron Laue microdiffraction) on a collection of well-studied low-grade metamorphic vein quartz. A second collection of research material consist of quartz-bearing rocks, of which the fabric and texture are well-studied by a wide range of fabric-analysis and texture-analysis techniques (X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction techniques). A number of these samples has also been used in deformation experiments. In the current project, these experimentally stressed samples will be used to test and validate the stress-gauge model by monitoring Dauphiné twinning through the well-constrained experimental stress conditions applied on the quartz material.Using Dauphiné twins in quartz as an ubiquitous recorder of stress, would definitively opennew perspectives in paleostress studies in the Earth's crust. Further advances in a better understanding of the true nature of Dauphiné twinning is also likely to influence our thinking on quartz rheology in crustal deformation conditions.ProfileApplicants for the PhD studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a Masters qualification in Earth or Material Sciences. Applicants must document their competence in the field of microtectonics, mineral and rock physics,mineralogy, and/or petrology. Applicants should clearly motivate their interest in the research topic.Applicants should be fluent in English (both in writing and speaking). The knowledge of Dutch is not required, although it may be advantageous with respect to teaching at the KU Leuven.OfferInterested?Please send your application to Manuel Sintubin (manuel.sintubin@ees.kuleuven.be) and Hans-Rudolf Wenk (wenk@berkeley.edu) by email.The application should contain:* Cover letter outlining academic interests, motivation and qualifications for the PhD studentship* Curriculum vitae* List of publications (if applicable)* Copies of university degree(s)* 2 letters of reference

For more information please contact Manuel Sintubin (manuel.sintubin@ees.kuleuven.be).You can apply for this job no later than January 31, 2014 via the online application tool